When opposing wrestlers step into the circle against Brad Schuler, they must wonder if the school's basketball center somehow stumbled onto the wrestling mat.

It's not often a 6-5" grappler is prowling the mat of a high school meet, and the prospects of wrapping up such a tall opponent presents a set of challenges that Schuler is happy to use to his advantage.

"I think I have an advantage because I have a longer reach," said Schuler. "They're not used to it because not everyone's 6-5", and I think I have an advantage on top because with my length I can hold them down and reach around them.

"On the bottom, it's hard for them to get anything on me because I'm so tall, and it takes a lot to lock me down."

Schuler used that length to quickly tilt East Stroudsburg North's Drequan Garner, pinning him in 1:39.

Schuler's main objective was to stay in control from the opening whistle.

"I just wanted to be tough on top," he said.

Schuler's pinning combination included a crossface, tight waist and an arm bar. That win lifted his record to 18-2, further cementing his strong senior campaign.

His success this year has landed him among the area's top wrestlers at 170, getting Honorable Mention nods throughout the year.

Head coach Tim Cunningham made sure all the seniors were on the mat during senior night, with Robert Tully, Brad Schuler, Anthony Fragnito and Edgardo Rivera getting an opportunity to say farewell to the home crowd.

Schuler, who has been wrestling since his freshman season, said it was an honor to wrestle in front of the home crowd on senior night. He said that senior night affords them the opportunity to shine since it's their last season as part of the maroon and gold.

Schuler was part of a strong team effort that toppled East Stroudsburg North 42-24 last Wednesday at Zephyr Gymnasium.

It was a workmanlike victory for the Zephs who are now 11-2-1 on the year (5-2-1 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference). They won nine of the 13 bouts, grinding out another league win as they march toward the postseason.

Mixed in among those nine wins were three pins, three decisions, a technical fall and a major decision. They showed the ability to get bonus points as well as win the close bouts, with three of those matches decided by a combined six points.

"That's the way it's got to be," said Cunningham. "We have to fight for every point we get."

Probably the most exciting bout of the evening came at 126. Whitehall's Nikitas Davis was paired against Reece Muldoon. Davis scored a first period takedown, and then rode out Muldoon the entire second period to take a 2-0 lead into the third. Muldoon then kept Davis under wraps throughout the final period but wasn't able to get any back points, preserving the 2-0 win for Davis.

Cunningham said that Muldoon's record included an 11-0 win over a shared opponent, and that Davis' victory against the Timberwolf demonstrated his continued progression throughout the season.

"That's showing improvement," said Cunningham.

Noah Rex got the Zephs on the board at 113, jumping out to an 8-0 lead after the first period. He continued his dominance in the second, registering two near falls to extend his lead to 12-0. He ended the match in the third, registering a tech fall over ESN's Taylin Torres in 4:46.

Tyler Schaeffer continued to impress this season, using a pair of takedowns, plus back points to jump out to an early 6-1 lead. He increased that lead to 10-2 to begin the third, and then wrapped up the scoring with another takedown to win 12-2.

The Zephs then got pins by Matt Schuler and Tully, the former stacking Jason Alicea in 1:21, while Tully decked Martin Venable in 1:10.

At 195, Tyler Oswald won a gritty 6-4 match over John Snoot, recovering from a costly reversal to secure the decision, while Joe Gladish pinned Mike Passamonte in 1:37. Finally, heavyweight Rivera used a takedown and escape to capture a 3-1 win, putting an exclamation point on senior night.

The team has reeled off four consecutive EPC wins, but Cunningham knows there's still a lot of room for improvement.

"We always want to be better," he said. "That's why we're going to go to the practice room tomorrow, to get better."

With Bethlehem Catholic looming next week, Schuler knows that beating the Golden Hawks will be a tall order. While those results will unfold next Wednesday, his postseason goals are to place high at the district meet and then move onto the regional tournament.

"Eventually states is my main goal," said Schuler. "I want to get out there for the first time."

Schuler said their success this season can be attributed to their work in the wrestling room.

"Everybody goes in there to work hard, not complain about anything, and just wants to get better," he said. "And it shows on the mat."